A LARGE-SCALE housing development should be designated strictly car free, campaigners say.

Backing residents who oppose the 212-home plans for the Aquila site, Councillor Ingrid Buckley asked planning colleagues to take a “radical” step.

Saying she has “deep concerns” over proposals for the isolated site off Golf Road, Bickley, Cllr Buckley called for the estate to be pedestrianised.

The ward councillor said: “I propose we’re totally radical and allow only public transport and cycles.

“I don’t want the borough ruined simply because we have been instructed to build more houses by John Prescott.” The Aquila application was given the nod after Bromley Council’s chief planner Stuart MacMillan told a committee of councillors the density of planned homes was at the lowest possible threshold of 30 per hectare.

Any lower than this, he said, and Mr Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, would step in and would have the power to impose an even greater density of houses on the site.

Ron Shirley, of Bickley Residents’ Action Group, formed to oppose the original 280-home application 18 months ago, told councillors the development is “certain to inflict serious harm on the neighbourhood”.

Householders stress they are not opposed to building houses on Aquila but say local roads will not be able to cope with traffic levels at the current level being proposed.

They add the need for the development “does not justify any departure” from the borough’s unitary development plan, which is currently being reviewed and will go to an inquiry in September.

In a move which outraged Bickley residents, the application was given outline planning permission, which means the council agrees in principle to the proposals.

More details will be submitted in due course and are likely to include plans for a community health facility.